Supreme Court Observer

🌄 Good Morning! 🏛️ Today, the CJI Gavai-led Constitution Bench is expected to conclude hearing arguments in the Presidential Reference on the powers of the Governor and President while granting assent to Bills. ⚖️ Yesterday, the Union suggested that states engage in conversation with Governors in case of delay: https://bit.ly/3VbmWyl 🎥 An SC decision from 2011 became the centrepiece of the Vice President election in 2025. More in our latest video: https://bit.ly/3JQ7IMZ 🗂️ Here are two new case backgrounds: - Application of the RTE Act to minority educational institutions: https://bit.ly/4mco93x - Court's monitoring of India's climate change obligations: https://bit.ly/4ntZtok

⛅ Good Morning! 🏛️ Today, a five-judge Bench will continue hearing arguments in the Presidential Reference concerning the powers of Governors and the President while granting assent to state assembly Bills. 📃 Yesterday, states opposing the Reference argued that the timelines set by the Court in the _Tamil Nadu Governor case_ earlier this year were valid: http://bit.ly/3JOndoC 📜 Punjab contended that the Reference was an appeal in disguise and therefore inappropriate -- the Union could consider a constitutional amendment. ⚖️ Punjab recalled that the Court's advisory jurisdiction had been invoked in a similar instance in the past, to get around a verdict in the 2G Case. Here's a list of past References: https://bit.ly/4mDhmRS

🌼 Good Morning! ⚖️ In the Presidential Reference, Tamil Nadu argued that Governors can only act on advice of Council of Ministers while granting assent to bills. If the advisory opinion expands the scope of his discretion it could open a can of worms. More in our newsletter: https://bit.ly/4mW6aj2 📑 Today, the Constitution Bench will resume hearings in the Presidential Reference. Previously, states argued that the Constitution envisages immediacy and Governors and the President cannot stall assent to bills. Hearing report: https://bit.ly/4nkGbS3 📚 Volume 9, Issue 2 of the Supreme Court Observer Law Reports is out now! This issue brings five key cases from the first week of September. Read: https://bit.ly/4pduuOP

🌆 Good Evening! 📜 *Volume 9, Issue 2* of the Supreme Court Observer Law Reports (SCO.LR) is here with 5 important judgements from the first week of September. 🔖 The topics covered in this Issue include: - The applicability of the Right to Education Act to minority institutions; - The jurisdiction of the NCLT in matters of fraud; - Whether a contractual clause can exclude pendente lite interest in an arbitral award and - The powers of High Courts to expand meanings of statutory definitions and frame substantial questions of law. Read here: https://www.scobserver.in/journal/sco-lr-2025-volume-9-issue-2-supreme-court-observer-law-reports/ 🌐 You can also read them in HTML: https://www.scobserver.in/supreme-court-observer-law-reports-scolr/

🌸 Good Morning! 📑 Today, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear challenges against the Special Intensive Revision of rolls in Bihar. In the last hearing, the ECI submitted that voters could raise objections against the deletion of their names even after the deadline of 1 September: http://bit.ly/4mJ8dXJ 🔍 Recently, Justice B.V. Nagarathna reportedly dissented against the elevation of Justice V.M. Pancholi. In our latest analysis we explore the concerns it raises about the workings of the Collegium system: http://bit.ly/3VtRBHg 👨‍⚖️ Justice Pancholi is scheduled to be the CJI in 2031. While his resolution does not mention this fact, a past elevation makes it clear that future CJI-ship is considered by the Collegium: https://bit.ly/42g4FEc

🌅 Good Morning! 📖 _'Supreme Court at 75: The Journey So Far_’ is a book of essays produced by the Bar Association of India, in collaboration with the Supreme Court Observer. ✒ We trust that the wide-ranging essays in this volume stand testament to our vibrant, contested constitutional history and legacy: https://bit.ly/480cIZ5 2️⃣ *Here are excerpts from two chapters in the book:* ⚖ Senior Advocate Gopal Subramanium analyses the role of "constitutional morality" in legal interpretation: http://bit.ly/3HU9Nqv 👨🏻‍⚖ SCO's Founding Editor, Dr. Sudhir Krishnaswamy breaks down how the Court used the Basic Structure Doctrine in the EWS Judgement: https://bit.ly/4p68fKE

🌻 Good Morning! 📊 Recently, Justice B.V. Nagarathna’s dissent against Justice V.M. Pancholi's Collegium recommendation made headlines. In our latest analysis, we look at how the episode raises fresh concerns about transparency in judicial appointments. Read: http://bit.ly/3VtRBHg ⚖️Yesterday, a 5-judge Constitution Bench heard Day 9 of arguments in the Presidential Reference on the powers of Governors and the President. States opposing the Reference argued that executive heads cannot exercise legislative powers. Read: http://bit.ly/3I5kpCN 🎙Justice S. Muralidhar spoke to SCO about “(In)Complete Justice? The Supreme Court at 75”, a new, commemorative book edited and curated by him. Watch the full interview here: http://bit.ly/4lZVa2G

🌻 Good Morning! *New Interview:* 🎙 _“(In)Complete Justice? The Supreme Court at 75”_ is a new book curated and edited by Justice S. Muralidhar. SCO sat down with him to discuss its contents and impact. Watch: https://bit.ly/3HFlMbr *Today in Court:* 🗃 A 5-judge Constitution Bench will continue hearing arguments in the Presidential Reference on the powers of Governors and the President. Here's what happened yesterday: http://bit.ly/3VvzGQs *Latest newsletter:* ⚖ Recently, the Home Minister blamed a 2011 verdict of the Supreme Court for delaying the elimination of the Maoist problem. We explain the decision and how it has become the centrepiece of the Vice Presidential elections in 2025: http://bit.ly/3VsgWkQ

☀️ Good Morning! 📝 Today, a five-judge Constitution Bench will resume hearing the Presidential Reference on the powers of Governors and the President. In the last hearing, the state of Tamil Nadu argued that indefinite withholding of assent upsets the constitutional scheme: https://bit.ly/3JAsPTb 🧑🏽‍⚖️Yesterday, the Court heard pleas seeking an extension of the deadline to file claims and objections to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar: http://bit.ly/4mJ8dXJ 📜 Volume 9, Issue 1 of the Supreme Court Observer Law Reports (SCO.LR) covers five key judgments from 25 August and 30 August 2025. Read: http://bit.ly/4p1udOT

🌆 Good Evening! 📜 *Volume 9, Issue 1* of the Supreme Court Observer Law Reports (SCO.LR) is here. ⚖️ In this first Issue of September 2025, we cover five important judgements from the last week of August. 🗃️This edition covers important decisions on: - Death penalty sentencing; - What constitutes ‘child abuse’; - Whether ‘collective responsibility’ applies to members of Public Service Commissions; - Executive orders in government recruitment when statutory rules exist; and - Collection of tax for a vehicle that isn’t using a ‘public place’. Read: https://www.scobserver.in/journal/sco-lr-2025-volume-9-issue-1-supreme-court-observer-law-reports/ 🌐 Read all judgements in HTML format on our SCO.LR page: https://www.scobserver.in/supreme-court-observer-law-reports-scolr/

🏞️ Good Morning! 🏛️ Recently, Home Minister Amit Shah attacked the Supreme Court’s decision in _Nandini Sundar v State of Chhattisgarh_ (2011) as ideologically inspired. ✊🏻 In that case, the Court had struck down the Chhattisgarh government’s Salwa Judum initiative, which was centred on recruiting tribal youth as Special Police Officers to combat Maoists. 👨🏻‍⚖️ Justice B. Sudershan Reddy, who was on the Bench that delivered the verdict, is now the Vice President contender for the Opposition. ⚖️ How has a decision from over a decade ago become a talking point in the run-up to the Vice Presidential elections? We explore in our latest newsletter: http://bit.ly/3VsgWkQ 📩 If your haven't already, subscribe to our newsletter: https://bit.ly/3Yr3WOe

🌅 Good Morning 2️⃣ Today, Justices Alok Aradhe and Vipul M Pancholi will be sworn in as judges of the Supreme Court. With their appointments, the Court will reach its full sanctioned strength of 34 judges. Our profiles: - Justice Alok Aradhe: https://bit.ly/47BUz3Z - Justice Vipul M Pancholi: https://bit.ly/4oTUgrn 📑 Yesterday, in the Presidential Reference hearing, the state of Tamil Nadu argued that a Governor's indefinite withholding of assent to a bills upsets the constitutional scheme. Further, that the Governor is bound by the advice of ministers and has no general discretion: https://bit.ly/3JAsPTb 👩‍⚖️ In our latest newsletter, we assessed CJI B.R. Gavai's tenure so far: https://bit.ly/4oQ2LUb

☀️ Good Morning 👩🏽‍⚖️ Today, a Constitution Bench will continue hearing the Presidential Reference on the power to grant assent to state bills. On Tuesday, the Court asked whether an expansive reading of the Governor’s ‘withholding powers’ could stall money bills. Hearing report: https://bit.ly/3VkoZA7 ➡️ Yesterday, the Union Government cleared the Collegium’s recommendations to appoint Justices Alok Aradhe and Vipul M Pancholi as judges of the top Court. With their appointment, the Court now returns to full strength of 34 judges: https://bit.ly/4fZQUz6 📰 In case you missed it: The latest issue of SCO.LR (Volume 8, Issue 4) is out now! Dive into the Court’s most significant decisions from last week here: https://bit.ly/47jOZTH

✨ Good Morning! 🐾 Last week, three judges of the Supreme Court modified an earlier Order by a two-judge Bench which directed the removal of stray dogs from the streets of Delhi and the NCR. 👨🏻‍⚖️ Earlier this month, the Court withdrew two directions from an Order which took away the criminal roster from a judge of the Allahabad HC “in deference to the written request of the Chief Justice of India.” 🏭 Last month, it recalled its judgement in the _Bhushan Steel_ insolvency case and allowed a review petition *with a direction that the matter be heard afresh* ⚖️ In our latest commentary, advocate Aparna Mehrotra and researcher Rishiraj Bhagawati argue that these recent reversals depart from precedent and procedure: https://bit.ly/3Jx0E7I

☀️Good Morning! 🗂️ Today, a five-judge Bench will continue hearing the Presidential Reference on the powers of Governors and the President to grant assent to Bills. Here's what happened in the last hearing: https://bit.ly/421ERey 5️⃣ Yesterday, the Supreme Court Collegium recommended Justices Alok Aradhe and Vipul M Pancholi to the top Court. If they are elevated, the Court will reach its full strength of 34 judges: https://bit.ly/4fZQUz6 🎤 Yesterday, while hearing cases against several comedians, the Court observed that the guidelines on online speech must protect vulnerable groups while preserving the right to speech: https://bit.ly/4n3FQmF 8️⃣ Vol 8, Issue 4 of SCO.LR is out now! We cover 5 key judgements from last week: https://bit.ly/47jOZTH

Good Evening! 🎱 Volume 8, Issue 4 of the Supreme Court Observer Law Reports (SCO.LR) is here. In this Issue, we bring you five key judgements released by the Supreme Court in the third week of August: https://www.scobserver.in/journal/supreme-court-observer-law-reports_sco-lr-2025-volume-8-issue-4/ 📋 These judgements cover topics such as the rights of legal heirs to continue an appeal, the rules on regularising ad hoc employment, the considerations in determining alimony in divorce cases, obstruction of public functions and the extent to which criminal orders can be rectified. 🌐 Don’t forget to read all judgements in clean and easily copyable HTML versions on our page here: https://www.scobserver.in/supreme-court-observer-law-reports-scolr/

🌄 Good Morning! 👨🏻‍⚖ As Chief Justice B.R. Gavai completes three months in office, we take a closer look at some of his administrative decisions and utterances in our newsletter: https://bit.ly/4oQ2LUb 🐕 Last week, a three-judge Bench modified an Order from a two-judge Bench that had directed authorities to round up stray dogs in the Delhi-NCR region and place them in shelters. The latest Order also impleaded all states and Union Territories: https://bit.ly/4lCgP0F 🛣 Earlier this month, the Court upheld an interim order from the Kerala High Court that suspended toll collection on the Edapally-Mannuthy National Highway stretch. In its Judgement, the Court highlighted the "rank neglect" of Indian roads: https://bit.ly/4781mSD

🌤️ Good Morning! 🐶 Today, a three-judge Bench will deliver its verdict on whether to stay an earlier two-judge Bench order that directed authorities to round up stray dogs in Delhi-NCR and place them in shelters. Full story: http://bit.ly/3HrkBw3 🪪 At 2pm, the Court will hear the challenge to the Special Intensive Revision of electoral rolls in Bihar. In the last hearing, the Court had directed the ECI to publish details of deleted names with reasons on the websites of all District Electoral Officers: https://bit.ly/415crA1 ⚖️ Yesterday, the Union argued before a Constitution Bench that Governor and President decisions under Articles 200 and 201 are beyond judicial review and that fixing timelines would rewrite the Constitution: https://bit.ly/4mUZ1PB

🏞️ Good Morning! 🏛️ Today, the five-judge Constitution Bench led by CJI B.R. Gavai will continue hearing the Presidential Reference on the powers of the Governor and the President while granting assent to bills. 🗣️ Yesterday, the Union government argued that the framers of the Constitution intended for Governors to have certain discretionary powers. Our report: https://bit.ly/3V8JXSr ♿ Recently, the Supreme Court took suo moto cognisance of a news item which highlighted the plight of military cadets who were disabled during training. Here's everything you need to know: https://bit.ly/3JoLeSL

🌤️ Good Morning! 5️⃣ Today, a Constitution Bench will continue hearing the Presidential reference on the powers of Governors and the President in assenting to state bills. Yesterday, the Union argued that the Tamil Nadu Governor judgement—which set timelines for granting assent—could create constitutional disorder: https://bit.ly/3HyZube 🚫 Kerala and TN opposed maintainability, contending that the TN Governor judgement addressed most of the President’s questions. In this commentary, Senior Advocate M.R. Shamshad argues that the Reference relitigates settled issues: https://bit.ly/3Teghm7 🏛️ What is the Reference about? Case background: https://bit.ly/3GzWuuM 📑 What did the TN Governor judgement say? Our summary: https://bitly.cx/ciC3K